PSYC 222 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Pseudoscience, James Randi, Wide-Body Aircraft

• School: Xavier University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 222
• Professor: Dulaney Cynthia

Document Summary

Chapter 4: testimonials and case study evidence: placebo effects and the amzing randi. Case studies do not confirm or disconfirm evidence in the testing of a particular theory. The first step is the development of a hypothesis. Testimonials and case studies stand as isolated phenomena; lack comparative information necessary to prove that a particular theory or therapy is superior. A positive response to a placebo does not mean that a patient"s problem was imaginary. Placebos can be harmful; can teach chronic illness by confirming and/or reinforcing the delusion of imagined disease. Placebo effects are potentially occurring whenever a therapeutic intervention is undertaken, regardless of the efficacy of the intervention. The vividness effect = when facing a problem-solving situation, people retrieve from memory the information that seems relevant to the situation at hand (the vividness of information affects accessibility) The vividness of personal testimony often overshadows other information of much higher reliability.